Why You Should Buy Vanilla Bean Paste

What is Vanilla Bean Paste?

When I first heard about vanilla bean paste, all I could picture was that white paste that you eat (umm.. glue with) in Kindergarten mixed with some bean specks. I found lots of pictures of the vanilla bean paste bottle online but no pictures of the actual vanilla bean paste itself. I had heard that it was vanilla extract, but with the beans in it. I began to picture a liquid with some specks.

It turns out that vanilla bean paste is much thicker than vanilla extract. It’s actually a thin syrup. While I would never drink vanilla extract straight up, I have been known to lick my fingers if they get some vanilla bean paste on them. It’s still a bit strong (not to mention expensive) to, for example, pour on your pancakes.

When To Use Vanilla Bean Paste

When it comes to vanilla ice cream, I have always demanded vanilla beans (Breyer’s Vanilla Bean ice cream is a favorite). However, for some reason, I had never considered my love of the bean in my baking. Use vanilla bean paste in place of vanilla extract anywhere you want the beans to shine. I love seeing and tasting those little black dots. I recently used my paste to make vanilla bean buttercream frosting.

Why Not Use an Actual Vanilla Bean?

You certainly could use an actual vanilla bean instead of the vanilla bean paste. However, it’s a bit more pricey and this is so easy!

68 Responses to Why You Should Buy Vanilla Bean Paste

That’s funny that you say that. I had heard it was at Trader Joe’s so I went there to buy it. They not only didn’t have it, but didn’t even know what it was. Someone told me that maybe they only have it around the holidays? Maybe only certain Trader Joe’s have them?

I LOVE vanilla bean paste and like noisy penguin, got mine at Trader Joe’s for a very good price. But like you, Stef, I couldn’t always find it. I found it, then didn’t find it again for a while — when I found it again FINALLY, I think I bought three or four bottles…I do hope it isn’t just seasonal, though for now I am set!

I have to say I have not tried the paste but for those married to their vanilla etract the stuff at williams sonoma is far superior to aythign you can buy at the grocery store. By the way I love your blog.

I haven’t seen Vanilla Paste at Trader Joes either. But the thought has me salivating. Maybe a STL thing? I personally prefer the Nielsen-Massey myself.The best place to buy vanilla beans locally I think is Penzey’s. It really is easy to just slice that sucker up and scrape out the beans. Very indulgent frosting. Highly recommend trying for special occasions.

I love Vanilla Bean Paste. Its fantastic. When you are making something simple and you want a little more flavor that extract will provide paste is the way to go. I have never seen it at Trader Joe’s I’ll have to look.

I also love using vanilla paste! Beanilla Trading Company, wwww.beanilla.com, has excellent paste and it is well priced. Their vanilla beans are also amazing! I ordered some last week… they smelled so good that I bought more today.

I had never heard of the paste either. However, i do have a ton of vanilla beans (u can buy them in bulk online, this batch came from ebay). I make my own vanilla extract, but what is the exchange for your oreo cookie filling if using the beans or extract instead of the paste?

I use the vanilla bean paste in things you want the specks, ie cheescake, panna cotta, ice creamI use the nielson-massey extract in things that the vanilla flavor will really standout ie pudding,cupcakes from scratch icing etc

I use the cheap vanilla extract only for box mixes or like chocolate cake–something not very vanilla

I’ve never heard of vanilla paste. I am definately going to give it a try. Do you use the same amount that the recipe calls for? For example if a recipe says to use 1 tsp of vanilla extract, do you use the same amount of vanilla paste? This is such a great blog. I always look forward to new entries.

would like to THANK you for introducing me to vanilla bean paste, i bought mine from amazon was 3 bottles for 18$ and free shipping i tasted it out of the bottle b/c the smell was so wonderful it wsa kinda sweet i was suprised im making your vanilla bean buttercream frosting as soon as i post this so TY AGAIN for introducing me to new products i would never have thought of!

We get it at Fresh Market. Our first experience with the paste was at a Viking Cooking School class, and we were sold from then on. I can’t think of anything it doesn’t make better. You should taste the strawberry ice cream I made with it today. YUM!

I’m going to make your favorite vanilla frosting tonight – I just wanted to let anyone in the San Antonio area know that I found vanilla bean paste at Central Market off Broadway in Alamo Heights. It was a bit pricey ($11.99), but somehow I just know it’ll be worth it.

I am such a sad panda… I called 5 different places locally and only one actually carried it (Williams Sonoma) but they were, naturally, out of stock! Darn it being summertime… the lady at the store said that they would have more in stock sometime next month, but it was bought out really fast because apparently everyone and their dog wanted to use it for their icecream… Darn them, darn them, darn them! Don’t they know my frosting is more important??

Thankfully I did purchase it from Cupcake Projects amazon store. I’m hoping it will get here in time so I can frost the Cupcake Explorer vanilla cupcakes with the Vanilla Bean Buttercream frosting before I have to turn my results in! *crosses fingers*

I am very new to your post (as in have been reading it avidly for the past two hours) and am enjoying it immensely. Here in New Zealand we do actually have the paste as well but it is 5 times the price of ordinary vanilla essence. I once read the back of an imitation vanilla essence bottle and one of the ingredients was propylene glycol – for those not in the know this can be used as antifreeze for engines. Errrkkk. Sara

Neilson-Massey’s vanilla paste pales in comparison to a bottle of Madagascar bakers syrup I found from a company called nakedsweetshop. There syrup is made from organic cane sugar and contains absolutely no alcohol. I had found that the paste from NM was not strong enough and I found myself still adding a tsp of extract to reach the desired flavor. The bakers syrup from NSS is amazing. You are able to 1/2 most recipes and still get a beautiful aroma as well as gourmet look. The best thing about it is that it comes in 3 different flavors-vanilla-spiced orange-and cocoa. Dear god the cocoa syrup is incredible. Since then I have gone through 3 bottles and have never had so many comments on my treats. I recommend everyone go to http://www.nakedsweetshop.com you will not be disappointed!!!!!!

OliveNation.com also has fantastic vanilla paste, and gorgeous vanilla beans! The beans always ship free, and I got on their newsletter list so I receive promo codes about once a week. Such great products!

I’m pleased to see that Sara (New Zealand) mentions the pitfalls of the vanilla essence. I have 15 vanilla orchids in my land in Grenada and when I think that I will have to hand fertilise the individual flower between 5am and7am when they start flowering. Wait 9 months for the vanilla beans to be full, pick them. Sit them in the hot sun for 3 hours a day for 14 days (wrapping them in a woollen blanket and putting in a box at night), and then lay them on a rack for two months. I wonder how the paste with those beautiful seeds can be so special after all it is the seeds have the flavour. So after giving the recipe for producing first class beans, please tell me what other than the whole pod, munched up, plus the seeds goes into the paste it cannot be that easy what keeps the flavour intact how many additives? Lizzie

I just got my first bottle of Vanilla Bean Paste at my new favorite store – Surfas Culinary District in Costa Mesa!!! Along with very cool cooking gadgets, supplies, dishes, cheeses to die for and cake decorating stuff, they have a great little restaurant!!! I could spend a lot of money there!

Vanilla Bean Paste doesn’t expire but as it sits in the cupboard past the expiration date it starts to become a goo instead of a thin syrup. Is there a way around this or can you heat it up to make it thinner? I always like finding it at a good deal.

I have been expirmenting with making my own flavored coffee creamers and used 2 1/2 tsp of the Vanilla Paste instead of Extract. A 1/2 a pinch of fresh ground cinnamon as a hint of counterpoint. Mix an let it sit overnight in he fridge. The paste makes a noticeable differance in the taste! Great creamer at less cost per bottle then bought. Nice thing about it is one can adjust the recipe to personal taste.

~ To go from using the imitation vanilla when I was growing up to Bourbon Vanilla pure, then scraping a bean– too expensive, Vanilla Bean Paste will be amazing. I’ve seen it on TV and posts. Vanilla bean birthday cake, may be able to make vanilla sugar with it. Definitely will use it in all things requiring vanilla.

of course like your website however you need to test the spelling on several
of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I’ll
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